Transgender Day of Remembrance
“Trans people are extraordinary, strong, intelligent, persistent and resilient. We have to be.” -Grace Dolan-Sandrino
November is Trans Awareness Month and today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. These occasions call on us--especially cisgender folks--to lean in and learn more about the experiences of the trans community and the challenges they face. - Amber & Katie
About 1.4 million Americans identify as transgender, meaning that their gender identity or expression doesn’t necessarily match the sex they are assigned at birth. In the U.S. and worldwide, this can lead to discrimination at many levels, leading trans people to experience worse health outcomes, less economic opportunity, unequal policing, barriers to legal documentation, and increased risk for violence and homelessness. This could be called cultural marginalization, but that doesn’t convey how brutal and harmful as it is.
The risks of harassment, assault and murder for trans people are higher than for cisgender people. According to one estimate, the average lifespan of a trans person is only 23 years. In 2019, at least 23 deaths have been reported from anti-transgender violence. 20 of those killed were Black people. The average annual murder rate is 1 in 19,000; for black trans women the rate is 1 in 2,600.
Transgender Day of Remembrance was first marked in 1998 by advocate and writer Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor her friend Rita Hester’s brutal murder the year before. Gwendolyn said “With so many seeking to erase transgender people--sometimes in the most brutal ways possible--it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”
In that spirit, Mic’s Unerased: Counting Transgender Lives project documents homocides of transgender people since 2010 and memorializes the victims. According to Mic reporters, at least 111 transgender and gender-nonconforming Americans were murdered from 2010 to 2016 because of their gender identity, 72% of them were black trans women and gender-nonconforming femmes, who identify as neither male nor female but present as feminine. GLAAD reports that over 20 trans people have been killed in 2019 alone.
Unerased reveals how even after death, a trans person’s identity is often misreported or effaced by medical personnel, law enforcement, media or family members. Mic also highlights how violence against trans people is exacerbated by race, gender and poverty stemming from discrimination. In other words, the discrimination and violence faced by the trans community is formidable and deep-rooted.
This week’s actions aim to raise up the voices and experiences of the diverse trans community. We invite you to join us in listening to their stories and taking up the commitment to end discrimination.
Watch An Introduction to Transgender People by the National Center for Transgender Equality, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
As noted in the video in #1, supporting transgender people means following their lead, letting them be who they are, using their preferred names and pronouns, and pushing back on misgendering, dead-naming, and jokes and offensive comments made at the expense of transgender people. So do that.
“What would it look like if we had a world where all trans and gender nonconforming people heard was kindness?” (A great little diddy by Jacob Tobia.)
Watch 10 Things You Need To Know About Transgender People by activist Jazz Jennings. Also check out her children's book "I Am Jazz."
Listen to more trans voices. Start with 10 Trans Activists To Follow On Twitter.
We promise this is the last numbered list in the numbered list: Buzzfeed’s 16 Extraordinary Black Trans Leaders You Need To Know spotlights several #icons with links to follow many on Instagram.
Listen to an interview with Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, medical director of the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. Atomic Moms is a parenting podcast, but this interview gives a great general framing of gender identity and the unique challenges facing trans youth.
Professional Development! HRC’s guide to Talking About Pronouns in the Workplace would be especially handy for managers. “A culture that readily asks or provides pronouns is one committed to reducing the risk of disrespect or embarrassment for both parties.”
Work in healthcare or another people-serving setting? Read these essential ways to create a supportive environment for the trans community. More resources on training are here.
Have you heard about the major workplace discrimination cases before SCOTUS this session? On this episode of The Daily, plaintiff Aimee Stephens shares her story of coming out, being fired, and fighting back. (Plus analysis of the way the court may rule in this landmark suit.)
On that note, listen to this episode of 1A, “Protecting Trans Rights In 2019,” with Trans activists and educators. Learn about the regular assaults on Trans rights and safety under the current administration.
Urge the Senate to Pass the Equality Act. The bill, which passed the House earlier this year, would expand existing federal laws to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Donate to the Transgender Law Center, a trans-led organization advocating for “changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.”
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Let us know how you’ve taken action using #LinkedAndLoud. Send us feedback at LinkedandLoud@gmail.com.
References
A National Epidemic: Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in the United States in 2019 | The Human Rights Campaign
Transgender Day of Remembrance | GLAAD
Transgender Health | The Fenway Institute
Linked & Loud illuminates complex problems and connects readers with the individuals and organizations working to solve them. Each week, we go beyond horrifying headlines to empower readers to take progressive action.